PNC Field in Lackawanna County is beginning to look like itself again, after major flooding problems led to a drainage overhaul.
Monday workers began the final phase of the project inside the stadium at PNC Field.
Stadium officials said while the field will look much the same, there will be a big difference come game time.
As workers began the final phase of work on the new field for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Harold Bauman, a long-time fan, came to take a look.
"I was here at one game when they got rained out, yeah, and they couldn't play. The game was finally played up at Syracuse I think," Bauman said.
That happened at several games this season, when heavy rains flooded the outfield and the team was forced to play elsewhere while workers came up with a quick fix.
Now, with a brand new drainage system installed, stadium officials said they are ready for next season and the rain that may come along with it.
"The field is, in essence, brand new, from the bottom up to the sod level. So the problems we experienced last season will no longer exist," said Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees President Kristen Rose.
League officials said after last season's problems, the stadium needed a new field with a working drainage system or risk loosing the baby bombers.
Rose said three years ago, when the artificial turf was replaced with grass, the 20-year-old drainage system wasn't replaced at all.
"Circumstances happened to collide at the same time where we had drainage that was no longer functioning, an inordinate amount of rainfall over the course of the summer," Rose said.
Now, baseball fans like Bauman are looking forward to the spring, hoping players will play their home games at home, rain or shine.
"This is the third field here now. I hope this lasts a little longer than the last one. Hope it has better drainage," Bauman added.
Stadium officials said the project, which cost taxpayers just over a million dollars, will be done in a few days.
Monday workers began the final phase of the project inside the stadium at PNC Field.
Stadium officials said while the field will look much the same, there will be a big difference come game time.
As workers began the final phase of work on the new field for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Harold Bauman, a long-time fan, came to take a look.
"I was here at one game when they got rained out, yeah, and they couldn't play. The game was finally played up at Syracuse I think," Bauman said.
That happened at several games this season, when heavy rains flooded the outfield and the team was forced to play elsewhere while workers came up with a quick fix.
Now, with a brand new drainage system installed, stadium officials said they are ready for next season and the rain that may come along with it.
"The field is, in essence, brand new, from the bottom up to the sod level. So the problems we experienced last season will no longer exist," said Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees President Kristen Rose.
League officials said after last season's problems, the stadium needed a new field with a working drainage system or risk loosing the baby bombers.
Rose said three years ago, when the artificial turf was replaced with grass, the 20-year-old drainage system wasn't replaced at all.
"Circumstances happened to collide at the same time where we had drainage that was no longer functioning, an inordinate amount of rainfall over the course of the summer," Rose said.
Now, baseball fans like Bauman are looking forward to the spring, hoping players will play their home games at home, rain or shine.
"This is the third field here now. I hope this lasts a little longer than the last one. Hope it has better drainage," Bauman added.
Stadium officials said the project, which cost taxpayers just over a million dollars, will be done in a few days.
